Atherton Leisure
Centre
We are building you a new Atherton
Leisure Centre. The Atherton Centre was closed on 31 December to be
rebuilt and will be open again in 2015.
Newham Council is investing £14.7m to build a brand new
Atherton Leisure Centre. The new centre will include swimming
facilities, a state of the art gym and space for fitness
classes.
New £14.7m Atherton centre gets the go-ahead
Newham councillors have agreed to build a new, modern leisure
centre on the site of the current Atherton Centre in
Stratford.
Up to £14.7m has been identified in the council's budget to spend
on the new centre in Romford Road, which would include swimming
facilities, a gym and space for fitness classes which residents and
users said were priorities.
A number of useful suggestions from residents and users about
disabled facilities, play and crèche facilities, relaxation areas
and changing facilities have been incorporated into the proposed
development brief, which could also include an element of
housing.
Work is due to begin on the site in July next year with the new
centre opening in early 2015.
A key factor in the decision to create new facilities was an
inspection assessment that revealed significant levels of
asbestos-containing materials throughout the building.
A report to the council's Cabinet looked into the results of the
12-week Atherton Consultation which suggested both Atherton users
and local residents 'would welcome improved facilities at
Atherton'. Among the least important factors for both was keeping
the existing building.
The report also stated: 'Having considered the results of the
consultation alongside other considerations including value for
money, it is considered that the new centre option is preferable
for a wide range of reasons.
Mayor of Newham, Sir Robin Wales, said: 'Our residents deserve a
better, more accessible facility than the one we currently have. We
want to invest money to genuinely improve the leisure facilities on
offer to residents.'
View the consultation report (pdf) and the
report made to the council's Cabinet (pdf).
While the centre is closed you can still access all other Newham
Leisure Centres.
Find out here where your nearest Leisure Centre is located.